The Phillies are trying to finish a trade for Pittsburgh Pirates lefty Tyler Anderson.
The two teams agreed on the deal, pending a review of medical records, Tuesday afternoon, according to sources.
The deal was to send minor league catcher Abrahan Gutierrez and minor-league pitcher Cristian Hernandez to the Pirates. Gutierrez and Hernandez are on the Low A Clearwater roster.
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SIGN UP HERE According to sources, the Pirates put a hold on the deal over issues with Hernandez' medical report.
The deal could still get done, with modifications. If not, the Phillies were said to have other trade possibilities.
Anderson is a 31-year-old lefty who will be a free agent at season’s end. He was 5-8 with a 4.35 ERA in 18 starts for the Pirates this season. He has also pitched for Colorado and San Francisco in his career.
Anderson was scratched from his scheduled start with Pittsburgh on Tuesday night. If the deal gets to the finish line, he could join the Phillies’ rotation as soon as Thursday and replace struggling Vince Velasquez.
MLB
The trade deadline arrives at 4 p.m. Friday. The Phillies are still trying to acquire bullpen help and have pursued Chicago Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel. The price for Kimbrel is steep. The Phils also have interest in Cubs' right-hander Ryan Tepera.
Anderson was a first-round pick of the Colorado Rockies in 2010. He is 27-35 with a 4.60 ERA in 104 big-league games, 100 starts. He has struck out just 7.9 batters per nine innings in his career, but has excellent control. He's walked just 2.2 batters per nine innings with the Pirates this season.
Anderson is riding a hot hand. He is 2-1 with a 2.74 ERA in his last four starts. Opponents have hit .236 over that span.
Anderson is owed the remainder of his $2.5 million salary or about $1 million. The Phils are creeping up on the $210 million luxury-tax threshold, but that won't be an impediment to president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski making deals as the team tries to stop a nine-year postseason drought from reaching a decade.
The Phils entered Tuesday's game against Washington at 50-49 and 3 1/2 games back in the NL East.
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